Examples of Physical Exchanges

1. Humboldt County educators strengthen international ties through Taiwan classroom exchange program: Since 2019, the Humboldt County Office of Education (HCOE) has been forming partnerships with Taiwan to build a community around global education. In July and August, a group of 25 local educators representing 14 different Humboldt County schools visited Taiwan on a trip led by Dr. Colby Smart, Deputy Superintendent of HCOE. The visit allowed for face-to-face meetings between local and sister classroom educators for the first time¹.
2. Local Educator Visits Taiwan for Educational Exchange: A Taiwan-United States educational exchange has been created between the Humboldt County Office of Education (HCOE) and the Chiayi City government. Dr. Colby Smart, Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services, was the keynote speaker at an event at the Institute of Education at Chung Cheng University in Taiwan. The bilateral cooperation aims to jointly promote bilingual education with the two countries².
3. Educators strengthen partnerships on trip to Taiwan: In July and August, a group of 25 local educators representing 14 different Humboldt County schools visited Taiwan on a trip led by Colby Smart, Deputy Superintendent of HCOE. Educators were selected from the pool of 70 educators with existing partnerships in Taiwan³. 

   The news article from Life News discusses a recent international educational exchange program between teachers from Taiwan and the United States. The event took place in Chiayi City, where nearly 60 teachers from both countries participated in a two-and-a-half-day workshop. The workshop included various activities such as professional development sessions, cultural exchanges, and collaborative teaching experiences. The program was initiated by a memorandum of understanding signed between Chiayi City Mayor Huang Min-Hui and Colby Smart, Deputy Superintendent of the Humboldt County Office of Education. The exchange aimed to enhance global education, promote bilingual education, and foster international friendships. The workshop concluded with a closing ceremony featuring traditional Taiwanese puppet shows and performances by students. The event was deemed a success by all participants, who appreciated the opportunity to learn from each other and build lasting connections.

4. Taiwanese educators pay a visit to Humboldt as part of global exchange: Deputy Superintendent Colby Smart at the Humboldt County Office of Education helped forge the connection back in 2019. Students and teachers connect with Taiwanese classrooms to exchange lessons, collaborate, and get a better sense of education across the sea⁴.

These visits and exchanges have significantly strengthened the educational ties between Humboldt County and Taiwan, fostering a sense of global community and collaboration.